Designation:D5511−12StandardTestMethodforDeterminingAnaerobicBiodegradationofPlasticMaterialsUnderHigh-SolidsAnaerobic-DigestionConditions1ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationD5511;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginaladoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon(´)indicatesaneditorialchangesincethelastrevisionorreapproval.1.Scope1.1Thistestmethodcoversthedeterminationofthedegreeandrateofanaerobicbiodegradationofplasticmaterialsinhigh-solidsanaerobicconditions.Thetestmaterialsareex-posedtoamethanogenicinoculumderivedfromanaerobicdigestersoperatingonlyonpretreatedhouseholdwaste.Theanaerobicdecompositiontakesplaceunderhigh-solids(morethan30%totalsolids)andstaticnon-mixedconditions.1.2Thistestmethodisdesignedtoyieldapercentageofconversionofcarboninthesampletocarboninthegaseousformunderconditionsfoundinhigh-solidsanaerobicdigesters,treatingmunicipalsolidwaste(1,2,3,4).2Thistestmethodmayalsoresemblesomeconditionsinbiologicallyactivelandfillswherethegasgeneratedisrecoveredandbiogasproductionisactivelypromotedbyinoculation(forexample,codepositionofanaerobicsewagesludge,anaerobicleachaterecirculation),moisturecontrol(forexample,leachaterecirculation),andtemperaturecontrol(forexample,short-terminjectionofoxygen,heatingofrecirculatedleachate)(5,6,7).1.3Thistestmethodisdesignedtobeapplicabletoallplasticmaterialsthatarenotinhibitorytothemicroorganismspresentinanaerobicdigestersoperatingonhouseholdwaste.1.4Claimsofperformanceshallbelimitedtothenumericalresultobtainedinthetestandnotbeusedforunqualified“biodegradable”claims.Reportsshallclearlystatethepercent-ageofnetgaseouscarbongenerationforboththetestandreferencesamplesatthecompletionofthetest.Furthermore,resultsshallnotbeextrapolatedpasttheactualdurationofthetest.1.5ThevaluesgiveninSIunitsaretoberegardedasthestandard.1.6Thisstandarddoesnotpurporttoaddressallofthesafetyconcerns,ifany,associatedwithitsuse...
